A construction site in South Carolina erupted into chaos after several workers abruptly fled, believing an overhead drone belonged to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The incident, captured in multiple viral videos, quickly spread across social media and reignited debate around immigration enforcement and labor conditions in the construction industry.
One of the widely circulated clips was posted to the X account @ICEofTikTok. The footage shows a group of men leaving a home under construction, glancing repeatedly at a drone hovering above the property. In the video, the workers can be seen rushing off the site, apparently fearful that the device was linked to federal immigration authorities. The exact location of the site remains unclear based on the original post.
According to Grok, the AI assistant built into X, early online chatter suggests the situation unfolded at a site in Columbia, South Carolina, sometime around November 21, 2025. Grok referenced “reports from TikTok, Reddit, and local news,” though no official confirmation has been issued regarding whether ICE was present, whether the drone was government-owned, or whether it was operating in an enforcement capacity.
A separate video, filmed from the perspective of one of the workers, shows a similar scene of men hurriedly escaping as a drone buzzes overhead. It is unknown whether both clips depict the same incident or separate encounters.
Public reaction on X ranged from concern to criticism. One user posted a sharply worded comment addressing the broader labor issues within the construction industry, stating: "Don't let these greedy contractors use illegals instead of American citizens. I know plenty of hard-working American citizens who would take up construction labor for a fair wage."
The comment reflects ongoing tensions surrounding undocumented laborers, worker safety, and contractor hiring practices—especially in industries where demand for labor is high and legal crackdowns have grown increasingly visible.
While ICE has not responded publicly to the footage, experts note that drone usage by government agencies has been expanding for surveillance, site monitoring, and border-related operations. However, without official confirmation, it remains unclear whether the drone belonged to ICE, was used by a local agency, was privately operated, or was introduced by an unrelated party.
Immigrant advocacy groups said the incident underscores the climate of fear many workers operate under. Construction companies nationwide increasingly rely on immigrant labor—often undocumented—making even unverified sightings of enforcement tools enough to trigger mass panic.
Industry observers note that chaotic episodes like this also highlight how misinformation can rapidly escalate on job sites—especially when workers rely on word-of-mouth or social media instead of employer communication channels.
As of now, local authorities have not confirmed any enforcement operations in the area, and no detainments linked to the incident have been reported. The videos, however, continue circulating widely, fueling discussions about immigration enforcement, worker rights, and the evolving relationship between labor, technology, and surveillance.
Originally reported by Cheyenne Ubiera News Reporter in The Mirror.
